Pros & Cons of White Concrete Countertops

Four things you should know before you pour white concrete countertops in your home! The pros and cons of cement in the kitchen!

White Concrete Countertops (Cement Countertops)

There seem to be two draws to cement kitchen countertops: the cost factor and the beauty factor. I think it is a misconception that concrete countertops are less expensive than say, quartz is.

In fact, our white concrete countertops ended up being pretty darn expensive once we factored in labor. If you are opting for cement countertops purely because you think they’ll be less expensive than other options, I wouldn’t recommend them!

Before deciding on concrete countertops for your kitchen make sure you 100% love the beauty of them! They are a perfectly imperfect surface that is delicate like marble.

Concrete countertops will feature cracks, slight rippling from being leveled during the pouring process, and little pepper flakes of aggregate.

Our white concrete countertops were not what I initially thought they’d be, but I have grown to love them! I love the cement surface more than the quartz counters we have in our laundry room. Cement is a beautiful option, but make sure you’re aware of all they entail before installing them in your home!

Pros of having Concrete countertops

1. Concrete (cement) countertops are beautiful and unique!

I have cement, marble, and quartz in my home - and I absolutely love the cement just as much as I love the marble! Our white concrete countertops are very beautiful and seem to have a personality of their own. It really is a statement element in our kitchen, and I love the unique imperfections which make the countertops have old-world charm in a modern way.

2. You can DIY concrete countertops.

I was initially drawn to concrete for our countertops because it seemed like a simple project that would be less expensive than selecting a stone countertop. While this didn’t necessarily pan out to be true (they were actually quite expensive), concrete countertops are something that can be DIY’d!

If you’d like to DIY this kitchen project, I would recommend reading as much as you can about concrete countertops and watching as many videos as you can. I would also recommend finding a friend experienced in pouring concrete to help you if you don’t have any experience of your own.

Personally, I didn’t want to take any chances on something so permanent, and we hired a contractor. Even with an experienced crew helping us, we still faced quite a few challenges during the process.

Cons of White concrete countertops

1. Cement is permanent.

Cement is a popular choice as a countertop surface right now, but in ten years, it might feel dated and old, and removing them will be difficult. The cement is heavy and if poured into place, is permanent! It will take a jackhammer and some serious muscles to remove the countertops, most likely damaging the cabinets beyond repair. This means that you won’t be able to update the countertops without demo’ing the entire kitchen. So be prepared to live with them for a long time!

2. Concrete countertops scratch & stain easily.

This is especially true for white concrete countertops! Cement is actually a pretty fragile surface that stains and cracks easily. It is also highly absorbent and must be sealed before you can use it in your kitchen. While I find the scratches to be charming, stains on white concrete countertops really take away from their beauty.

If you’re considering cement countertops for your kitchen, be prepared to treat them delicately. They are not durable like quartz, think of them more like marble!

3. Sealing cement properly is difficult.

You might be thinking, “if the countertops are sealed properly, they won’t stain or scratch!”…This is theoretically true, but finding a great sealant is very difficult! I have done lots of research on this, and even after sealing our white concrete counters with the StoneLok system (supposedly heat and scratch resistant), I can attest that they are still much more delicate than you’d think.

The sealant has flaked off in some places, and must be sanded down and reapplied periodically to protect the cement and keep the surface sanitary.

4. Cement cracks.

Cement inherently cracks, it’s just what cement does. Be prepared to see cracks in your cement countertops. This doesn’t bother me in our kitchen, but if you are a Type A person, you should be aware of this before installing them in your home!

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Boxwood Avenue is a place where we can come together to appreciate beautiful design, old world traditions, and slow living. Be it making Grandma’s famous apple pie, sewing a new dress, or putting together a thoughtful handmade gift; we are passionate about living a simple and fulfilled life.